In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing HR, with a focus on building trust through data privacy and security. Join us as we discuss practical steps, emerging challenges, and the evolving role of HR professionals in the AI era.

Key Topics:

Resources & Links:

Connect with Brian Platts:

Timestamps: 

00:30 - Welcome and introduction to the episode

01:15 - Brian Platts’ background in HR and software

02:08 - Flurry’s mission to make data meaningful for HR

03:26 - Fun fact: starting career driving a semi truck

04:44 - AI in HR: privacy, security, and data foundations

05:53 - Preparing your HR data for AI adoption

06:08 - Challenges with data quality and use cases

07:08 - Security considerations: private vs. public data

08:22 - Trusting AI vendors and data-sharing risks

09:15 - Teaching AI to query data securely

10:07 - Data organization and semantic layers

11:29 - Improving chatbots and avoiding misinformation

12:26 - Ensuring process accuracy and data integrity

13:14 - Sharing vs. protecting employee data

14:05 - Re-implementing permissions in AI-driven systems

15:01 - Education and awareness around AI security

16:13 - Learning from SaaS security issues during early cloud adoption

17:18 - HR’s role in AI education and safeguarding IP

18:14 - Balancing productivity gains with security controls

19:06 - AI’s impact on HR future: automation and new workforce roles

20:16 - The concept of the “Meat Layer” and human-AI collaboration

21:02 - Will AI replace HR jobs or empower them?

22:16 - The limits of current AI technology and future innovations

23:03 - Analogies: AI as a horse and the importance of tooling

24:06 - Embracing AI to enhance human work rather than replace it

25:16 - Reinventing HR processes beyond IT-led automation

26:18 - Regulatory challenges and incremental HR AI adoption

27:30 - How HR can lead responsible AI integration

28:03 - Final advice for HR professionals: think broadly and connect the dots

In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges and opportunities of HR data governance, exploring how organizations can improve data quality, ownership, and usability in a rapidly evolving AI landscape. Join us for practical insights from seasoned HR analytics experts on building a data-driven culture that supports strategic decision-making.

Key Topics:

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Why HR data governance matters today

02:30 - Challenges HR faces with data quality and accuracy

06:15 - Why organizations struggle to demonstrate ROI from HR data

09:00 - Cultural and mindset barriers to effective data management

11:00 - The impact of AI and machine learning on HR data quality

12:30 - Context and system integration challenges across HR tech stack

15:11 - Defining HR data governance: Ownership, stewardship, and quality

17:00 - Creating a data glossary and system of record for HR data

19:05 - Real-world examples of poor HR data visibility and audit issues

21:00 - Using chatbots and AI: risks, benefits, and data consistency

24:00 - The importance of documentation and version control in AI applications

27:40 - Practical steps to start your HR data governance journey

30:00 - The significance of aligning metrics and defining owners

33:00 - Building a culture of data excellence and quick wins

36:00 - Addressing expectations for pristine data and managing realities

37:00 - Final recommendations for HR leaders to improve data governance

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🚀 Dive into the future (at least the next 6 months) of HR with the latest episode of the HR Data Labs podcast! In the Season 10 recap, host David Turetsky explores the evolving landscape of compensation, strategy, and people analytics. We recap the current Season 10, where we discuss addressing training gaps, the impact of AI in HR, and other cool episode topics. Then we review our prediction for the past 6 months and make bold predictions for first 6 months of 2026.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that prepares you for the challenges and opportunities ahead. #HRInnovation #FutureOfWork #HRDataLabs

Join host David Turetsky and guest Paul Reiman from Novo Insights as they delve into the dynamic world of compensation strategies and pay transparency. Discover how regulatory changes in the US and Europe are shaping the landscape, the critical role of job documentation, and the impact of technology in fostering transparency. Tune in for insightful predictions for 2026 and learn how political climates may influence future pay transparency laws.

Chapters

Quotes:

Craig Friedman, Talent and Skills Transformation Leader at St. Charles Consulting Group and author of Enterprise Skills Unlocked, joins us this week to discuss the shift toward skills-based organizations. He breaks down how data-driven transformations allow companies to move from simple headcount management to true capability management. Craig also shares practical advice on how to prioritize skills projects to ensure they solve real business problems and deliver ROI.

[0:00] Introduction

[5:05] What does a skills-based transformation look like in practice?

[11:57] How different teams leverage skills data differently

[26:14] The impact on Learning and Development (L&D)

[36:20] Closing

Quick Quote

“A lot of the reason we're doing this now when we couldn't do it before is because of these more advanced tools in data analytics and AI and machine learning that actually help us manage data at that scale.”

Link to Craig's book: https://a.co/d/0naqmvh

🚀 Exciting changes are coming in 2026! Join David Turetsky as he shares his vision for HR Data Labs, focusing on positivity and growth. Discover how we're merging brown bag lunches into our podcast and launching something new for HR Data Labs. #HRDataLabs #2026Vision #Positivity

Chapters

Ranya Nehmeh, HR Strategist and Adjunct Professor at FHWien der WKW in Vienna, Austria, and Peter Cappelli, Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School, join us this week to discuss some of the topics covered in their book, In Praise of the Office. We explore the current tumultuous state of Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates, why "hybrid" work is often failing to deliver on its promises, and the critical need for intentional management to foster human connection.

[0:00] Introduction

[9:15] The messiness of Return-to-Office (RTO) today

[19:03] Is work actually getting done remotely?

[29:50] Do policies need to change for the new world of work?

[46:23] Closing

Quick Quote

“If you really want people to come back into the office, you have to do it with intentionality.”

Steve Brink, CEO of GECN Group, joins us this week to discuss the complex world of executive compensation. Steve breaks down why the US pays a premium compared to the rest of the world, how boards are shifting their focus from simple compensation to holistic talent management, and the global trends driving executive pay structures today.

Bob Pulver, host of the Elevate Your AIQ podcast and a 25-year enterprise tech and innovation veteran, joins us this week to unpack the urgent need to move past "AI" as a buzzword and define what "Responsible AI" truly means for organizations. He shares his insights on why we are all responsible for AI, how to balance playing "defense" (risk mitigation) and "offense" (innovation), and why we must never outsource our critical thinking and human agency to these new tools.

[0:00] Introduction

[12:25] What Does “Responsible AI” Mean?

[25:48] The Two Sides of Responsible Innovation

[41:58] Why don’t we use AI to give us a 4-day work week?

[50:27] Closing

Quick Quote

“We're all responsible for Responsible AI, whatever your role is. You're either using it or abusing it . . . or you're building it or you're testing it.”

Noah Mithrush, Director of Growth Marketing at Guusto, joins us live from the UKG Aspire Conference to unpack the critical intersection of User Experience (UX) and Employee Experience (EX) in HR technology. Noah explains why so many HR programs fail to gain adoption and how even the best intentions can be derailed by a poor user experience. We discuss how to get into the user’s mindset, why HR tech should be as easy to use a consumer app, and how making the emotional journey of an employee is the key to success. 

[0:00] Introduction

[3:53] What do people get right and wrong about user experience?

[10:43] How do you get into the users’ mindset to align UX and EX?

[16:59] How does AI impact the employee experience?

[22:28] Closing

Quick Quote

“What I see a lot of the time is what people get right is their intention. At the very beginning, they're trying to solve a problem . . . but when it comes to tech and the user experience, [they’re] not taking into consideration all of the points along the way of different technology [and] how the actual end-user (or employee) has to use and interact with it.”